Man freezes to death after city limits electricity

[WriteDown]

Source: AP

BAY CITY, Mich. - A 93-year-old man froze to death inside his home just days after the municipal power company restricted his use of electricity because of unpaid bills, officials said.

Marvin E. Schur died "a slow, painful death," said Kanu Virani, Oakland County's deputy chief medical examiner, who performed the autopsy.

Neighbors discovered Schur's body on Jan. 17. They said the indoor temperature was below 32 degrees at the time, The Bay City Times reported Monday...

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28858971/

---

Never heard of these limiter devices.

[WI_DEM]

1. At this time of the year, nobody should ever have there electricity/heat turned off or limited

Shame on that utility company. It won't bring this man back but heads should roll.

[Wapsie B]

4. Someone needs to be out of a job today.

I thought there were laws about turning off or limiting electricity/heat in the winter.

[Vinca]

15. Someone should be under arrest. nt

[lonestarnot]

28. Damn straight!

[merwin]

40. Not everywhere. In WA you have to be low income and have registered as such.

Our heat got turned off at the end of December because the gas company said I owed them a deposit (when I didn't). Took me 2 days to get it on and another week to fix their mistake.

[roguevalley]

14. 92. this is an abomination. how many others are there out there?

I could barely keep up with the heating bills during our three or so weeks of -40. I feel so badly for this man. he was helpless and they murdered him.

[MountainLaurel]

32. Most power companies don't

I know that in West Virginia, they couldn't shut off anyone's heat or gas during the winter months. I couldn't imagine not having a rule like that in Michigan of all places.

[GreenPartyVoter]

44. Not allowed to turn it off here in Maine. I always assumed this was a nation-wide thing

[MountainLaurel]

45. Might be a function

Of each state's Public Service Commission, responsible for "regulating" the utilities.

[cabluedem]

111. Nope, and it gets cold enough in parts of CA to freeze to death here too. n/t

[whopis01]

89. It seems that they do it in a sort of indirect way...

They put a limiter on your power meter - so you can draw a minimal amount of power. But if you go over that, it 'blows like a fuse' according to the article. It wasn't clear to me whether or not it is something that you can reset yourself or if it needs to be reset by the power company. Sounds like you are left guessing whether or not you can turn on one more light or turn the heater up one more notch.

To me it smacks of plausible deniability - so that the power company can say 'we didn't shut off his power... he was the one who took action to cause his power to be cut off'

[Zhade]

2. How is this not murder?

NT!

[BrklynLiberal]

13. Criminally negligent homicide...

[Zhade]

35. Deal!

NT!

[closeupready]

3. "was it worth it" I wonder. Someone should ask them that.

:mad:

[w4rma]

5. Well the electric company isn't getting their money, now. (nt)

[WriteDown]

8. Not really the electric company....

This is the city.

[truedelphi]

6. Some Du'er just mentioned 48 hrs ago, that poverty is NOT

Torture.

I fail to see how poverty and torture are not the same. True if you are poor, no one handcufffs you or blindfolds you, but being starved, frozend or burned up sure doesn't seem very appealing to me and especially not to those suffering that fate.

[salib]

9. I did not see that exchange

However, this is torture.

[Zhade]

11. That DUer needs a reality check.

NT!

[undergroundpanther]

12. It is tortuous

Because poverty is like a pit, the harder you try to get out of it; the deeper you fall into it.

Here are some ways poverty HURTS people.

http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Oct07/how.poverty.hurts.sl.html
http://hpn.asu.edu/archives/Jan98/0011.html
http://sirenschronicles.com/2008/10/15/poverty-hurts-us-all/
http://poverty.suite101.com/article.cfm/poverty_in_connecticut

US congress tries to live on a food stamp budget..
http://foodstampchallenge.typepad.com/

Who set in place the slashing of the social programs? It was the government. As a society, why do we put value on someone who is elite and not on someone who is poor? As individuals, we all have something to offer in one way or another. Elitism is everywhere in our society
http://poverty.thespec.com/2008/10/any-hurt-to-one.html

education that works..

"Imagine you've been in the desert," he tells them, wearing a purple school sweatshirt and a gray ponytail. "You find a little bit of water. The smart thing to do would be to save a little bit of it. But you drink it all because you're so thirsty. For a lot of people, I think that's what happens when they find a little bit of money, because they've been without it for so long. It's gone."
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20040419&slug=boom19

[roguevalley]

17. it is torture. Its also been criminalized in this asshat country. being

poor is somehow criminal. I wish ... He reminds me of my grandpa, a sweet man who would have been as helpless as this man against this kind of murder. I feel awful for him.

[McCamy Taylor]

18. Poverty in a wealthy country is murder. In a wealthy world it is a war crime.

[acmavm]

21. We have some pretty pathetic excuses for human beings floating around

this place. Go read the corporate jet thread.

[silverojo]

37. I wish I could K&R your post - n/t

[elocs]

7. Posted here at 2:13 in GD:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4914979

[undergroundpanther]

10. BGE

was promoting them awhile ago.To"save on energy costs" they cycle your heat or ac on and off at their discretion allegedly to save money.

I refuse to be subjected to that shit.
I pay my bills I have no debt,BUT when I get older or the pain gets worse,or SSI cut I don't know if I can make it or not.
I might end up that way.

Poverty sucks.

EVERYONE should as a citizen of EARTH have at least the RIGHT to have clean water,healthy food, safe habitable not-overcrowded shelter,warmth,and cooling.. (heat kills too you know).People also should have a right to live free from domestic,school or work abuse,get good medical care,medicines, psych care,Also Transportation should the area become dangerous(like Katrina) or to get out of isolation .People also need to have the ways and means to develop a social networks..Because having friends ,a social network that knows you exist and can check on you is also vital to your survival too. Some counties use some of the tax money to subsidies the availability of friendship.

Our country is too greed obsessed and selfish to even entertain these ideas.We compete against each other,when we should be standing by each other.


Even some countries that view the United States as a champion of human rights were annoyed by Washington's opposition to recent votes by the commission to provide AIDS treatments to poor people and to declare a "right to food."
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines01/0504-01.htm


Food rights
http://righttruth.typepad.com/right_truth/food_and_drink/

[McCamy Taylor]

16. Sad thing is some negligent family member will get rich suing when there needs to be CRIMINAL charge

Making the city pay a few cents for every dollar they save with this kind of practice will not dissuade the bean counters from doing this. If people lose their jobs and go to jail, it will.

[KewlKat]

25. Doesn't sound like he had any family

per the article......Schur had no children and his wife had died several years ago.

[Le Taz Hot]

55. So, where were the churches?

Too busy protecting phoetuses I suspect. Sorry, rhetorical question.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

90. If the churches had KNOWN ABOUT HIM

In the Episcopal Church, the clergy have a discretionary fund (which has to be accounted for each month) for the express purpose of providing one-time help to people whose urgent needs fall outside the normal charitable programs. When I was on a church vestry (governing board), our priest used his to help someone with grocery money for the last week of the month for a family where both parents were unemployed, to buy a bus ticket so that a man who came to our meal program could attend his mother's funeral, and bicycle repairs for a youth who earned his living as a bike messenger. (These are the examples I remember.)

If this man was an isolated senior with no ties to the community, no one may have known to check up on him. You may just as well ask where his neighbors were. Why didn't THEY check up on him? Intervene with the electric company on his behalf?

Some people tend to withdraw into themselves when they grow older. With no close family, he may have become a recluse. I've seen older people who spend days at a time without talking to anyone, either because all their family and friends are dead or because they've become fearful of the outside world.

This is NO EXCUSE for what happened to him, though. Utility companies should not be allowed to cut off power or heat during the winter.

[LisaL]

52. The old guy lived alone. His wife died and he had no children.

[tabasco]

115. Which family member would that be?

Or are you just making shit up again?

[Piewhacket]

19. murder

[acmavm]

20. Make it to 93 years of age and then die because some assholes

decide that you don't deserve to keep warm enough to stay alive. Over an unpaid bill.

[olddad56]

33. this is indeed a very sad story, but..

I know that I don't want to be living on this planet when I'm 93. I'd like to think that this gentleman is now in a much better place.

I think for him, hell finally froze over.

[Earth_First]

22. re: "Never heard of these limiter devices."

Just wait until the arrival of the newly heralded "smart grids" that Obama & Co. want to implement as part of a 'green jobs' infrastructure program.

A smart grid will use digital technology to allow two-way communication
between electricity generators and customers. It will, if promises hold
true, allow appliances in homes to use electricity when it is abundant
and inexpensive. It will allow electricity managers to peer into their
systems to identify problems and avoid them. It will provide rapid
information about blackouts and power quality.

It is also designed to link the grid to large scale solar and wind
projects that are built far away from the cities and suburbs where
people need electricity. Through these transmission lines - and better
management of the intermittent power from wind, for example - it will
allow the nation to incorporate large scale renewable power into the
power system.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2009/01/what_is_a_smart_power_grid_1.html

Now I understand exactly that this paints me in a very strange light; however...I've been tracked enough over the last 8 years.

Call me cynical.

[Laelth]

94. Wind power blows.

Obama is a very smart man. I hope he changes his stated position about wind power.

Wind Power BLOWS.

See the following:
http://www.keepersoftheblueridge.com/faqs.html
http://www.nortexwind.org/index.htm
http://www.stopillwind.org/index.php
http://windconcernsontario.wordpress.com/
http://www.savewesternny.org/
http://www.epaw.org/

Or just watch this series of videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNxvkrgoPLo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_utFV2ukOtU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOd5tSZF3A4&feature=related

There's more, but you get the idea. :)

The United States is a LIBERAL Country.

:dem:

-Laelth

[MiaCulpa]

23. Unbelievable in this country

There should be criminal charges indeed. No one should have to die that way.

-Diane

[Raster]

24. Utility companies SHOULD NOT be "for-profit" enterprises. They should serve the public good,

not the good of the shareholders.

[WriteDown]

36. this is a public company run by the city. nt

[Raster]

42. Even worse.

[WriteDown]

43. Definitely more egregious. nt

[Tab]

26. Was out of power for a week

Temp inside was down to 47 and it was frickin' cold.

32 is waaaaay too cold. I'm a little immunocompromised, and 47 was tough, but I can't imagine being 93 and at freezing (32).

This shouldn't happen.

[baldguy]

27. This used to be illegal.

I'm sure the GOP lobbied to overturn the law.

[NutmegYankee]

53. Criminal. Here the power companies only turn off power in summer.

It's required to supply power in the winter months regardless of bills.

[Gormy Cuss]

29. Note that the spokesperson tried to lay the blame on the neighbors.

He said Bay City Electric Light & Power's policies will be reviewed, but he didn't believe the city did anything wrong.

"I've said this before and some of my colleagues have said this: Neighbors need to keep an eye on neighbors," Belleman said. "When they think there's something wrong, they should contact the appropriate agency or city department."

What bullshit.

[JerseygirlCT]

39. Did they really need to be contacted in order to know that no

heat in horrible cold would add up to this death? Really? And if a neighbor had contacted them, would it have made any difference? That's just a cheap way to try to shift the blame.

[LisaL]

51. Ain't that sweet?

Boggles the mind.

[xxqqqzme]

30. "I've said this before and some

of my colleagues have said this: Neighbors need to keep an eye on neighbors," Belleman said. (Bay City manager) Hey, dickhead, he was YOUR neighbor too.

Olberman's 'worst person in the world'! nomination.

[undeterred]

31. And will they change their policy?

Somebody needs to go to prison for this.

[elleng]

49. No, someone needs to go to the governor

and the mayor.

[MiaCulpa]

34. And he's a WW2 Veteran!

Heads should roll.

http://www.wnem.com/news/18566890/detail.html#-

[chatnoir]

50. In the video at the link

they mention that he had a utility bill on his kitchen table with a large amt of money clipped to it with the intention of paying the bill.

What they did to that poor old man is a sin. :(

[cabluedem]

57. I hope he was getting a VA pension. So many older vets never apply. Very sad indeed. nt

[JerseygirlCT]

38. Oh, that's horrid. nt

[AbbeyRoad]

41. this story is so messed up, but unfortunately not surprising

I don't think they should be able to shut off access to your source of heat in the middle of winter no matter who you are, but it's unconscionable when they do it to the most vulnerable.

[ConcernedCanuk]

46. K&R - Landlady cut me off for a week, and now am on partial hydro

.
.
.

Fortunately, I have a generator for hydro as well as propane for heat

Using the generator and propane at a cost of 20 bucks a day got me through the week total cutoff, still spending close to 10 bucks a day for propane heat to make up for the loss of 220V (heat) hydro

Oh yeah - it was/is illegal

But where does a poor guy get a hot shot lawyer?

2 - 3 months, it'll be warmer, and I can hopefully move on

[Occulus]

54. Look up the statutes and learn the law.

Represent yourself. It's one, single case, against a (very likely) legally inept landlord.

I had a landlord once who thought it was legal to give 24 hours' notice and then evacuate the contents of the apartment onto the lawn. I straightened him out on that, but I really wish I had not, because I could have sued for the value of the building or perhaps the very deed, and won.

Landlords are clueless, in my experience, when it comes to the text of the laws that affect them, and they often have very severe misconceptions of what the law means and how it applies to them.

It's actually pretty easy to defeat a landlord in court if you have a fairly solid case to begin with. Most of the time, they really, honestly don't know jack about the laws that govern their behavior, and sometimes it is thus somewhat entertaining to watch them wind their own hanging rope.

[ConcernedCanuk]

107. Thank you - never considered the lawsuit thing, was too absorbed in survival

.
.
.

Police have visited twice, so the landlady's shutting off the hydro is documented

I have kept receipts for the gas and propane

Neighbors have questioned and commented on the generator running

And I've lived around here for almost 3 decades

Landlady is new

[elleng]

47. The municipal power company

was 'allowed' to do this because the city, county and state enabled it to do this. Any one of them could have prohibited such, in the circumstances.

Hope the Governor notices.

[slampoet]

48. When ever someone goes into a workplace and shoots everyone I wonder if there is a story like this

behind it that no one in the company wants the media to know if the true cause.

[slay]

56. So that's what a human life is worth these days huh? Unpaid electric bills. Unreal.

And sickening. Poor Marvin. In his 93 years I bet he never could have imagined this. :cry:

[OKNancy]

58. kick

[whopis01]

59. 93-Year-Old Michigan Man Dies After City Turns Off Power To Home

Source: AP

Officials in central Michigan say a 93-year-old man who owed more than $1,000 in unpaid electric bills froze to death inside his home -- where the municipal power company had restricted his use of electricity.

The manager of Bay City says the limiter was tripped sometime between the time of installation and the discovery of the man's body.

The body of Marvin Schur was discovered on January 17th. According to the Bay City Times, neighbors who found his body said the indoor temperature was below freezing.

Oakland County's deputy chief medical examiner says Schur died a "slow, painful death" from hypothermia.

Read more: http://www.ksfy.com/news/local/38371369.html

[dropkickpa]

60. Loathesome treatment of the elderly

This happens all over. The social saftey nets for the elderly all over the country have been stripped away by the repugs over the years, tragically in this and other instances, and very close to in far too many others. Please ya'll, check on your elderly solitary neighbors daily in temperature extremes, even if they're grumpy old fucks.

[happygoluckytoyou]

80. CLASS WARFARE ! ! ! The shot heard round the USA ! ! ! McCain's 7 houses are well heated ! !

[BobRossi]

61. This is fucked up.

What kind of society do we live in where we value the worthless dollar more than human life?

[crikkett]

74. um, a free one?

:shrug:

[Baby Snooks]

81. What kind?

A very predatory society which feels it has no obligation whatsoever to anyone. And sadly that view is held by many Democrats. One in particular who thinks it's okay to have the police arrest the homeless to keep them "out of sight, out of mind."

Most states have restrictions on the cut-offs with regard to weather but in reality waiting until the weather improves means nothing simply because they don't turn the lights or gas on when the weather deterioriates again. And we may see more of this now that we are in the "dead of winter" which has a chilling meaning to it.

We have spent trillions of dollars on a war for oil and spent trillions of dollars bailing out crooks on Wall Street and yet we offer nothing to ensure that our own have a roof over their head and have utilities.

[Joanne98]

62. The CEO of the electric company should be charged with murder!

[whopis01]

66. absolutely. n/t

[mod mom]

70. I third that!

[Dr. Strange]

85. Are you sure about that?

The company is owned by the city, so wouldn't that be the mayor?

[whopis01]

87. It is still a company with someone in charge.

I am certain that the mayor is not the one running the show at the power company, even if it is a municipal company.

However, if it turns out that I am wrong - then yes, the mayor should be held responsible.

[Joe Bacon]

63. Gee. where are the "pro-life" fools?

Silence.

Not a peep.

They bullshit about their devotion to Freddy and Freida Fetus. BUT once Freddy or Freida pop out, well they're on their own...

[madrchsod]

64. a 93 year man that should have had someone checking on him

his family(?) ,neighbors,social services,and the power company all share responsibility....

[LisaL]

86. He apparently lived alone. His wife died and he had no children.

By the way, since when are neighbors responsible for someone's well being? How often do you check on your neighbors to make sure they are all o'key?

[polly7]

65. Damn it, that's sad.

Great reminder to check on our neighbours, elderly and not so elderly when it's this cold. An article stated he had no children and his wife had died. One thing though, I didn't think it was legal for utility companies to shut off power during the middle of winter? Could be an urban myth, too ...

[dropkickpa]

78. Not anymore

Used to be, but they boo-hooed and got it changed.

[Romulox]

67. Disgusting. Let me point out that this story suggests the gas co. had also cut him off...

Nobody in Michigan uses electric heat as their first choice.

[shadowknows69]

68. I'll try to chime in as often as possible while my wife and I are freezing to death

As of, pretty much tommorrow, our heat is no longer included in our rent. Taking our monthly cost of living from about 600 to about 1200. No way in Hell we can afford both. At least Hell will be warm. This can't be allowed to happen in the USA.

[crikkett]

76. I'm so sorry.

!!!!

[RetailSlave]

91. I haven't turned my heat on yet this year....

and right now the temp outside is twenty. I'm living on showers (included in the rent), cooking gas (ditto), and hanging out at the library. I have electric baseboard heaters, and they are EXPENSIVE...

[knitter4democracy]

99. Hell's cold right now.

Housing prices are decent here in Michigan, though. ;) Hell, Michigan's not a bad place to live.

There's got to be a way, Shadow. I'm now officially on a very limited income for my bills, but surely I could send you something to help out. You shouldn't be cold like that. It's just plain wrong.

[shadowknows69]

102. If it comes to it, and it probably will, we're paying our utilities first

And hopefully stave off eviction until we can find a place (nearly impossible around here) or warmer weather hit so the mobile home (our minivan) will be survivable. Boy I'm just a bundle of joy today huh?

[knitter4democracy]

105. You know to ask some of us here first, right?

I am deadly serious about that. There's no way in Hell, Michigan that I'm going to just sit back and let you go through that. Now that my husband's moved out, I've got a guest bedroom all set. I'm serious--if you can make the move to Michigan, you've got a place until you land on your feet.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

69. Disgusting.

I didn't know power companies could do that without a court hearing.

[bobd0]

71. The power company has to make money and their profits take precedence over our lives.

A $1,000 electric bill is now punishable by death in America.

[polly7]

72. There's a little additional info here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3707619

One post states he had the bill on the table with some money attached, as though he'd intended to pay it.

[whopis01]

88. The power company will probably want to claim that money... n/t

[Odin2005]

73. That is criminal! Heads should roll over this!

:grr:

Here the city is not allowed to shut off or restrict anyone's power during the winter. Given that this is FARGO that rule is 100% necessary because of our winters.

[rurallib]

82. Are you sure that is still true? After reading this you may want to check

I thought that rule was pretty standard around the country but .......

[lostnotforgotten]

75. Corporations Are Legally People - The Death Sentence Would Be Appropriate

eom

[crikkett]

77. this society does not believe in the death penalty for imaginary people

no matter what crimes they perpetrate or what misery they cause.

[lostnotforgotten]

97. Never Too Late To Start A New Trend!

eom

[Dr. Strange]

103. What corporation?

The city made the decision. In this case, you'd have to kill the city.
Although that won't happen, because politicians like to write the laws to exempt government. So the city will probably get away with this murder/homicide/whatever it is.

[madibella]

79. This is incredibly heartbreaking. I cannot stop thinking about

this poor man.

We would have gone without and sent him some money if we would have known (but of course, how could we). I'm sure many would do this as well.

To make it through his entire life....only for this. Sick.

[onehandle]

83. Dupe.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3707619

[happygoluckytoyou]

84. a poem dedicated to Marvin --victim of CLASS WARFARE !!! ==>==>== ==>==>==> =>==>==>==>== ==>==>==>

Owed To The American People

The night was cold
Marvin was old
Gas Co stock was undersold

Sorry dude, no power
Not at this cold late hour
The voice from the ivory tower

Somewhere a stockholder
Through wealth made bolder
Gave humankind a cold shoulder

McCain houses and fireplaces
Warm hands and smiling faces
America's wealthy disgraces

Rich people don't dare
realize poor and old need care
Dont see them thought they are there
Welcome to CLASS WARFARE

To Marvin Schur this ode
For the future it does bode
A rocky road

For Marvin who has now found bliss
To those who need this Devil's kiss
Their wealthy souls will soon be his

The rich profess to relate to God
But sooner will they meet ol' Sod
And find the heat they prize so much
Reap the prize they rape so well
The hotter to their tender touch
The hottest corner of their private hell

[drgnmztr]

117. He had the money

Whats really sad is, according to the paper the San Jose Mercury News ,my girlfriend said they stated that he had the money to pay. He hadnt missed a payment in 50 years and they found cash, paper-clipped to each of his bills. Something must have happened mentally to him, to not have him follow through. You would think a red flag would have popped up to say hey, something is wrong. If I'm going to send someone out to a home to put a device on that restricts usage, wouldnt you have someone try to collect payment before doing so? Check on them? They could be dead. I know the phone companies call you when you have an excessive amount of calls, such as 900 calls, to find out whats going on, if its not happened before. Why wouldnt a power company have the same kind of RED FLAG detection.? ESPECIALLY in the winter months.
It makes me FURIOUS that that this happened.

[Laelth]

92. The City Manager's response is revolting.

Here's what he said:

"I've said this before and some of my colleagues have said this: Neighbors need to keep an eye on neighbors," Belleman said. "When they think there's something wrong, they should contact the appropriate agency or city department."

Oh, I get it. It's not his fault, nor is it the city's fault that this man froze to death. It's his neighbors' fault for not paying attention.

Grr ...

:mad:

-Laelth


Edit:Laelth--typos corrected.

[entanglement]

109. What a POS-if there was any justice in this world, this pig would be left out to freeze in 40 below

:mad:

[slackmaster]

93. He should have been moved out of that home when it bacame evident he couldn't afford to live there

However...

Schur had no children and his wife had died several years ago....

He fell through the cracks. That could happen to almost anyone.

Certainly his power shouldn't have been shut off under the circumstances, but who should pay for it?

[knitter4democracy]

100. And where in Bay City was he supposed to live, then?

You can't sell your house anywhere in Michigan right now. I've seen houses on our street for sale for two and three years at rock-bottom prices that the bank's then taken over and can't sell either. So, what was he supposed to do?

There are more than he falling through the cracks here. It's really bad here in Michigan, and the cold that we've had this winter has been brutal, let alone the massive snowfall compared to normal. I'm only doing okay because my neighbors saw that I was struggling to keep up with the shovelling and helped out.

[slackmaster]

101. If I had answers to questions like that, I'd run for Governor of California or something

I don't know how to fix it, but I would suggest that people who can't afford to pay heating bills would be better off living in places where heating your home is not a matter of life or death.

[knitter4democracy]

104. With what money?

Moving costs a lot, selling a house that you own for a major loss (if you can even sell it) costs a ton, and where are people supposed to live? I'm just saying, spouting right wing answers that haven't worked in the past isn't helpful for anyone actually in the situation.

[slackmaster]

106. The article in the OP was pretty thin on particulars like whether or not the man owned the home

And what kind of home it was.

What do you think should be done about the problem of people who out-live their families, their friends, and are not able to financially support themselves (or are financially able, but become mentally incapable of paying taking care of life's business but don't have anyone watching them closely enough to make sure their bills get paid)?

It's actually a subject I'm very interested in, coming from a family where people tend to have few children and are geographically dispersed.

[knitter4democracy]

108. I think that there are already many possibilities.

At least here in Michigan, I know of a few social services available, depending on where you live. The hard part is getting people to take advantage of the support that's already there, and it's sad that he died without any help or anyone there.

[Honeycombe8]

114. Here in TX, the utility cos. have a fund, funded by customer contributions, that

someone with financial hardship can apply to, to pay their bills.

It's probably inadequate, but it's more than nothing.

Here in TX, though, our problem is the heat, not the cold. People die here every year from the heat.

We also have drives for donations of big fans and such, which are given away to poor people (like a food bank, only for fans). They are too poor to have a/c, but it costs pennies to run a fan...and it's necessary just to stay alive (you're still not comfortable).

I'm guessing the 92 year old was a shut-in. He COULD have spent his days in a public heated place. He probably should've been in a nursing home (Medicaid pays for that, if you're really poor.)

[RadiationTherapy]

95. Sorry, but capitalism means no one gets a free ride.

What were they supposed to do? Let him have free power? If you cannot pay your bills, you are going to have a hard time and possibly die.

Time to wake up. Life in America is like a football game. It doesn't matter if you know how to play or want to or not. You are being competed with. There are people flying around the field trying to knock the shit out of you so they can get ahead. This is capitalism. This is competition for resources. Law of the fucking jungle and old baboons get ripped apart by the young.

Fucking pathetic. Fucking capitalist predator fucks.

[mbperrin]

112. So the city which gave itself the monopoly power to have

the only electric company in town, and which extracts taxes from this man on a regular basis is "competing"?

Let's see, he's like 93 - perhaps some additional time to pay the fucking bill, which because of the monopoly nature of the seller is no doubt about 3 times higher than it should be!

He's probably not much of a flight risk.

On the other hand, companies that kill their customers and reduce revenues could not survive unless they were back by the legal system and forcibly extracted taxes.

So the city electric folks are stupid, mean, AND short-sighted. I don't see why a charge of involuntary manslaughter isn't appropriate.

Send someone to jail - perhaps their critical thinking would improve. If not, at least their stupidity is isolated for a while.

[harun]

96. Murderers.

[knitter4democracy]

98. How did I know it was here in Michigan?

*shakes head* Not the first or only one to die this winter, I'd bet.

[entanglement]

110. Outrageous - will this POS city 'manager' be prosecuted by the DoJ?

[sarcasmo]

113. Such a sad story.

[KewlKat]

116. Here's some information of Mr Schur

He's pictured in the center with 2 nephews who live in FL.



He served 6 years in the South Pacific and received the purple heart.

You can read about him at this LINK

[chatnoir]

119. I'm so sad for this man

From the link --

Marvin Schur and his late wife, Marian (Meisel) Schur, didn’t have children. Nephew Bentley Bremer of Saginaw Township, said he hadn’t seen his uncle in years.

Bremer’s wife, Genevieve, said her husband didn’t visit his uncle due to a “family feud” that developed several decades ago.
...
Gerald Walworth, 77, of Virginia, another nephew of Schur, described his late uncle as “a loner, other than his marriage to Marian.”

Basically no family to speak of and nobody who cared about him. :(

[madibella]

120. I cared about him. Although I am a stranger, I care.

So sad.

[elias7]

118. He sadly lacked the resources to ask for help

93 years old, possibly demented, no family, no friends, no means to pay bills, unaware how to reset the "limiter", didn't call 911, etc...

He was clearly unable to live independently. Why not blame the town for not checking on him, why not blame his doctor for not arranging a home nursing evaluation, why not blame social services for not being aware of his condition. Why not blame the man himself for not seeking help.

The elderly who try to live on their own until the bitter end will face a bitter end. Hospitals see these people coming in all the time-- elderly who refuse to accept they can no longer live independently, brought in for illnesses and accidents by family members who are frustrated at being unable to convince their parents to move on to assisted living or nursing homes.

These elderly have lived a long time on their own terms, and it appears that they want to die on their own terms as well. It is not pretty and seems to us to be tragic. He may have considered the slow painful death of vegetating in a nursing home to have been a worse fate.

[sarcasmo]

121. Kick, back to the top.